Method and apparatus for separating particles

Abstract

A method and apparatus for separating particles preferentially accelerates particles to a rotating collector, which then reliably conveys collected particles to a discharge with minimal re-entrainment of the particles in the fluid stream. The collector minimizes energy transfer to the fluid and maximizes separation under conditions of high particle loading, fine particle content, or both. The separator may be operated in any vertical, horizontal or oblique orientation, or within devices whose orientation varies over time.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to techniques for separating particles, such as solids or liquid droplets, from a gas. More particularly, the invention relates to more effectively processing gas streams containing a high mass content of particles and / or particles not easily separable, such as sub-micron or high aspect ratio particles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Two-phase (e.g., gas-solid, gas-liquid) flows are ubiquitous across a broad range of manufacturing, agricultural, medical and military applications. In many instances, the flow is intentional and controlled, as in pneumatic conveyors, pesticide applicators or drug delivery devices. In other applications, a gas contaminated with entrained particles / droplets must be refined, or particles / droplets entrained in a gas must be recovered for some further use. As used herein, a “particle” refers to both solid particles and liquid droplets.[0003]Across these applications, there is often a requirement to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a new separator that can handle highly-loaded flows, remove nano-scale particles from gas streams, and reduce the size and energy requirements of mechanical separators. The separator uses a vane arrangement nested within a rotating hollow collector to create a differential velocity vector between the flow components. It requires relatively lower energy input and remains effective even when high loading or nano-scale particles are present. The vanes may be arranged so that flow is forced to periodically reverse its radial direction as it travels axially through the device. Overall, the invention provides a more efficient and effective solution for separating flow components."

Problems solved by technology

Structural filters have a capacity limit in terms of total allowable mass of captured particles.

However, these devices have inherent restrictions on the maximum concentration of particles (mass per unit volume of gas) which they can efficiently process.

The configuration of these systems, and the turbulent flows within them, often results in re-entrainment of separated particles, especially under conditions of high loading or contained nano-particles.

In applications where either particles are very fine or the particle loading is quite high, or both, structural filters and conventional mechanical separators may not be economical or may fail altogether.

However, nano-sized particles are essentially the size of smoke particles, which are easily suspended in flowing gas.

Structural filters may be effective in removing nano-particles from air, but there are problems with pressure drop (energy loss), system volume and “harvesting” particles from the filter.

In desert operations, wind-borne sand damages engines, driven components and electrical devices.

As a result, structural filters are changed very frequently, with limited success at capturing nano-scale particles.

Mechanical filters exhibit two principal shortcomings—poor performance rejecting fine dust particles and excessive wear on fan blades and guide vanes from sand erosion.

Prior art separator designs have limited ability to process large mass flows having very high solids loading or that contain nano-scale particles.

Further, conventional mechanical separators may require large internal volumes or substantial energy to accelerate the gas-solid stream being treated.

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